International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

25 November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

This year’s theme is “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!” 

On this day we call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.  We call on people everywhere to wear the colour orange and take action to end violence against women and girls in every community, at home, in public spaces, in schools and workplaces, during conflict and in times of peace.

Violence against women and girls is among the most widespread and devastating human rights’ violations we face. A third of all women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and half of all women who are killed worldwide are murdered by their partner, former partner or family member. Violence against women is as common a cause of death and incapacity for women of reproductive age as cancer.

Across Australia, violence against women is estimated to cost the country of $21.7 billion a year. The social and emotional cost to women, children and men in our families and communities is immeasurable, as we live every day with the traumatic fallout of this largely invisible pandemic.

We acknowledge the global evidence that the root cause of violence against women is gender inequality and how it intersects with sexism, racism, colonialism, disablism, ageism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

In Australia, at least 45 women have lost their lives to violence against women since January this year. Thousands more women and children live daily with the legacies of violence and abuse, often exacerbated by experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women nationally, for example, are 34 times more likely to be hospitalised for family

Read More  IEU Speaks on Elimination of Violence Against Women